Paris 2008: Chevy Cruze unveiled on eve of show, interior revealed
Click above for high-res gallery of the 2010 Chevy Cruze
We've gotten a pretty good look at the 2010 Chevy Cruze already, but the model that had been making rounds in the U.S. was nothing more than a styling buck with no guts inside. Today, just a few hours ahead of the Paris Motor Show, General Motors has revealed the rest of the Cruze, including its interior, and we like what we see. The exterior looks crisp and shows off Chevy's latest design language, especially with the Malibu-esque face and sharp headlights. Everyone agrees that it's a step-up styling-wise from its Cobalt forebear. It's the interior that really shines, though. What appears to be a tweed-like fabric covers sweeping colored panels from the dash to the doors. Two large gauges, two smaller ones and a digital readout places the most important information front-and-center while a cluster of buttons sits just below a centrally-located LCD screen. Meanwhile, the center stack appears to be a fresh design, though any judgment on its ergonomics will have to wait.We won't be getting the Cruze in the States until April 2010 as a 2011 model. When that finally happens, the Cruze will be powered by a 140-horsepower 1.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder, which will somehow manage to achieve above 40 mpg on the highway. If you want it now, perhaps you should stop buying so many Cobalts. In Europe, sales will begin in March of 2009 with a range of gas and diesel powerplants.
Gallery: 2011 Chevy Cruze
[Source: GM]
PRESS RELEASE:
Chevrolet Cruze Revealed on the Eve of the Paris Motor Show
Paris – Today General Motors President and Chief Operating Officer Fritz Henderson and Ed Welburn, vice president of Global Design revealed the all-new Chevrolet Cruze at a special premiere event at the "Le Pavillon Dauphine", located in the heart of Paris.
The event was attended by approximately 350 journalists from around the world, who also saw the reveal of the Chevrolet Orlando show car and the European premieres of the Chevrolet Volt and Camaro.
Media and guests got a first-hand look at the arching roof-line of the Cruze that extends from the steeply raked windshield to its sloping rear pillars and short rear deck, bringing coupe-like proportions to a compact sedan.
"Tight panel-fits and shut lines, a restrained use of exterior trim, a dual bezel design on the headlamps, an integrated rear spoiler - everywhere your eye settles, there are fine details that add to that sense of substance and value," Ed Welburn said at the presentation of the Cruze.
Chevrolet's mantra that exciting design and value are not mutually exclusive is also reflected in the interior. It carries a new level of detailed execution, spaciousness, and appointments that stand out in the segment.
While putting emphasis on comfort, spaciousness and a sporty appeal, interior designers and engineers set a goal to create a cockpit environment that is harmonious, flowing and uniquely inviting to the senses.
"The interior must build a relationship with drivers. It's where they spend their time," says David Lyon, executive director of GM Interior Design. "Fabric is warm and inviting in ways plastics cannot be. It offers unique detail with fibers, colors and textures. Instead of limiting fabric to seats, we spread that warmth and luxury throughout the vehicle."
Another contributing factor to the refined look is an integrated center stack (ICS) design which houses the infotainment display, radio and HVAC controls. It eliminates traditional framing of these interfaces, resulting in a contemporary, flush and harmonious relationship between control heads and outlying surfaces.
Sales of the Chevrolet Cruze will start in Europe in March 2009, followed by other global regions. The arrival of the new compact vehicle spearheads a roll-out of new products for Chevrolet, expected to further propel the global growth of brand.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 5)
garlinski 2:38PM (10/01/2008)
Wow... that really looks good. I really just said that about a GM interior.
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s13hybrid 4:56PM (10/01/2008)
That is exactly what I was thinking when I saw that. It is very nice, reminds me of the accord interior, but that is not a bad thing.
Ayatollah Rodriguez 5:11PM (10/01/2008)
WOW Indeed, it looks great. But this is a concept. Have you ever seen OFFICIAL shots on Aveo as a concept? Those looked pretty good too. Sadly production cars are a little bit inferior.
J M C 3 5:27PM (10/01/2008)
Super nice interior.
Derek 8:08PM (10/01/2008)
Ayatollah Rodriguez: this IS the production interior. As the article said, it goes on sale in Europe next March.
Alex E. 4:18AM (10/02/2008)
NOT a GM interior. Daewoo! The Cruze is a Daewoo product. "Chevrolet" is GM's global brand name for Daewoo outside North America. This was styled and engineered in South Korea!
shortshifter 11:16AM (10/03/2008)
@ Alex E.: Get over it. Daewoo IS GM. GM is a global company and is not just a bunch of Detroit engineers and stylists anymore. Their Asian engineering and design teams ARE GM, and they are helping really put GM on top again in a number of ways. This is just one example, and I hope it does well for them.
Look at their global range and it's hard to not be impressed. The Daewoo version of the G8/Holden is killer. The Chinese-only Cadillac SLS and it's first-rate interior is on par with anything from Lexus. The new Opel Insignia is world-class in every regard- styling, technology, powertrain.
Sure, there are still some less-than-stellar products left over here in the US, but if they can make it thru this transition, good things like the Cruze will be rise to the top after they boil all of the other stuff out. They are not alone in cutting back on product development for the NA market for the time being.
garlinski 11:22AM (10/03/2008)
@ shortshifter
amen dude. amen. My next ride will be styled from australia in the form of a Pontiac G8 GXP. As GM brings the Euro/Asian/Aussie design themes in-house in Detroit then GM will be a serious player again. We're goign to see that from Buick we already see it from Pontiac and the upcoming Cruze. I truly like the GM crossover quadruplets... a few too many versions though... the G8 is drop dead sexy and the Mailbu is really a great looking ride as well. This coming for a guy who owns two German made vehicles. I plan to come home with my next purchase. Good job GM.
Saluki 2:40PM (10/01/2008)
As a life long hater of most big 3 autos, let me be the first to say that it looks really nice.
I think if the production model looks anything like that, they will sell a ton of them.
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MikeW 2:41PM (10/01/2008)
Hey forward is supposed to be downshift.
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Eric77TA 2:51PM (10/01/2008)
Unless you're driving a Porsche, Audi, VW, Mazda, or Cadillac. It's not intuitive, but there are lots of cars that have forward to upshift.
Quattroporte 3:20PM (10/01/2008)
I prefer to push-to-downshift and pull-to-upshift, but so few manufacturers use this method. BMW, Lincoln, Mazda, and Maserati are a few of the manufacturers that get it right.
http://www.netcarshow.com/lincoln/2009-mks/1600x1200/wallpaper_31.htm
http://www.netcarshow.com/mazda/2009-6_us-spec/1600x1200/wallpaper_57.htm
http://www.netcarshow.com/bmw/2009-m3_convertible/1600x1200/wallpaper_1a.htm
Frylock350 3:38PM (10/01/2008)
Meh, it makes more sense for forward to be upshift for those who haven't driven a manual transmission.
Or you can be like me and had your first driving experience in a truck with "three-on-the-tree". I expect a damn lever on the steering column to upshift/downshift dammit!
Matt 4:46PM (10/01/2008)
yea forward downshift makes more sense. Think about the forces under acceleration, as in you have to go against the g-force to upshift? Makes more sense to go with the force upshifting and downshifting,
Kayne001 1:31AM (10/02/2008)
I agree with you Quattro
TJ 2:42PM (10/01/2008)
Looks darn good.
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jgp 2:42PM (10/01/2008)
Wow. This is a _sweet_ interior.
I think it's a toss-up between this and the Volvo S40 for best-in-class interior...
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Torrent 5:34PM (10/01/2008)
I agree. that interior is awesome
stevereportdotcom 2:44PM (10/01/2008)
Good looking interior. Much better then most Honda's and Toyota's. However, will people pay about $20k for this? Sure the arguement is people already pay that much for a Civic, but the Civic has a brand name that is tied to quality and resale value.
Price this at around $15k and we have a new dominate player in the sub-compact sedan market.
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jgp 2:46PM (10/01/2008)
The Mazda3 is all over the place, and it's one of the more expensive cars in its class.
Remember that Mazda was a joke before the Mazda6 and Mazda3 came out. The 626 and Protege were considered cut-rate Camry and Corolla knock-offs without any of the reputation.